The Smith regime has now made it an offence for a member of the security forces to fail to report any colleague whom he or she believes may be intending to go absent without leave. The new regulation, which is included in a provision of the Defence Amendment Bill, is a pointer to the regime's concern at both black and white desertion from the security forces. The Bill passed its third reading in the House of Assembly on 1 March 1978.
The Deputy Secretary for Information and Publicity of ZANU (Patriotic Front), Eddison Zvobgo, said in London on 22 March that many secret trials of African members of the security forces had taken place, on charges of insubordination and refusing to fight. Others had fled the country.
